With the sound of a needle hitting the vinyl, Conspiracy of Thought opens this disc that is a mind bending experience to say the least. Hailing from California these alternative rockers bring you a brand of music that strikes you on so many levels, a rest period will be in order after the workout they give you!
From breathtaking beauty to pounding metal, the ingenuity on this disc is a journey through many brands of music you will come in contact with today. Forget about trying to label them as that is something beyond any of our capabilities. They are a group that lets the music take them where the message says it must go.
With thought provoking lyrics that deal on a variety of topics, they try to get you to think, feel and see the world around you in a different light. With intelligence not normally heard these days, Conspiracy of Thought speaks to you about things not of the usual rock and roll fare, on a level you will appreciate. These are educated guys and it shows as they try to bring to light some of the political and social injustices of the world in this superb effort.
Calling upon their vast musical knowledge also, this group delights you with a plethora of sound that goes everywhere from metal with a bit of rap to old school heavy rock with pauses in the realms of funk, jazz, classical and about every other genre you can think of (No country thank you!). From the heaviness of "Phoenix Rising" to the beauty of "Nothing More Than Light" with its enticing string section, you will be amazed at the places they dare to take you. While they are definitely metalheads at heart, there is no qualm about exploring any avenue open to them.
Two examples of where this band really stands out are the outstanding title track "Nothing More Than Light" and the powerhouse tune "Mississippi". On the title track the band takes you in search of something that will give life meaning. I think I know what it is they found but I will leave it up to them to tell you. The music that is the soundtrack for this journey is the perfect compliment to this spiritual quest.
Turning to the world of social injustice with the song "Mississippi", the band brings to light the bigotry that prevailed there in the past and the way that those in power abused their standing. With a touch of rap ala Kid Rock/Stuck Mojo, the blight of the blacks in this era come through bright and clear. This is one of the best songs I have heard this year. It is a terrific three minutes of rock that should be a tune that permeates the airwaves soon. It definitely is on my mp3 play list permanently. This is a powerful song with a thought provoking message, what more can you ask for?
There are so many examples on this disc of music that you will be better off for by just listening to it. The haunting "Breathe" captives you and once again makes you use the grey matter at the same time. "Walls" with its claustrophobic atmosphere captures the oppression the lyrics deal with totally. The update of the song "Back 2 Back" from their previous release delivers a heavy political message against its industrial beat and metal mayhem. The list could go on and on, at least for the 17 choices you have on this disc.
Conspiracy of Thought has won many awards and accolades in their home state of California. It is easy to see why after hearing this disc. I will be amazed if they are not one of the breakout bands of the year, they are that good. With this being the second CD of such high quality music, it is time for them to be heard. These guys are a combination of musicianship and brains that you will not find anywhere else that I can think of. They make me think of the people who tried to raise the consciousness of the nation back in the sixties. Only they are doing it with a message for today and dynamite metal music to match!
Track listing:
1. What Kind Of Nation
2. Phoenix Rising
3. Nothing More Than Light
4. Other Side
5. This Broken Heart
6. Mississippi
7. Breathe
8. Blowback
9. The Plan
10. Right
11. The Rape
12. Control
13. Genome
14. Artifice
15. Walls
16. NMTL HHX
17. Back2Back '09
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